Friday after the Ascension.

Friday after the Ascension.
On the Exceeding Great Joy which our Lord’s Ascension Caused.

PRAYER BEFORE MEDITATION.

My God, I firmly believe that Thou art here present. I acknowledge that on account of my many sins I am utterly unworthy to appear before Thy sacred countenance. Yet, confiding in Thy infinite goodness and mercy, I venture to address Thee, to call upon Thy holy name, and meditate upon Thy commandments, in order that I may acquire a better knowledge of Thy holy will, and accomplish it with more fidelity. Wherefore enlighten my understanding that I may perceive what I ought to do or leave undone for the promotion of Thy glory and my own salvation; at the same time excite my will, that I may repent with my whole heart of my past sins, and resolve for the future to do all that Thou requirest of me. Grant me above all to know Jesus, my divine Teacher and Guide, more clearly, that I may love Him more dearly, and consequently labor, struggle and suffer with greater generosity and self-sacrifice in imitation of His example. Holy Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, show Jesus to me now, and let me study thy divine Son to the salvation of my soul. Holy Guardian Angel, keep far from me all distracting thoughts; my patron saint, come to my assistance. Amen.

Friday after the Ascension.
On the Exceeding Great Joy which our Lord’s Ascension Caused.

To-day recall once more to your mind and represent to yourself the awful sadness, anguish, and sorrow which once overwhelmed our oppressed Lord and His disciples on the Mount of Olives. In commencing your meditation immerse yourself once more in that ocean of bitterness, transport yourself in imagination to Mount Olivet and review the sad events of that mournful, gloomy night on which our Lord’s Passion began, in order that by contrast you may be enabled to recognize more clearly and appreciate more fully the sweetness of the joy wherewith the hearts of all overflowed who were present on the Mount of Olives on the occasion of our Lord’s ascension.

1st. Consider the happiness, the joy of the just souls who went up into Heaven with our Lord. How gladly they must have quitted the prison where they had been detained for a thousand years! how their joy must have increased in degree and become exultant rapture as they drew nearer and nearer to their celestial habitation, and all its brilliance and beauty burst on their delighted sight! Theirs was the joy of the exile who after long years of weary banishment returns to his beloved country and the parental roof, endeared to him by fond reminiscences. Then the words of the Royal Prophet were truly fulfilled, words which those happy souls might well make their own: “God is ascended with jubilee and the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to our King, sing ye, for He hath chosen for us His inheritance.” (Ps. xlvi. 6.) Join in spirit that jubilant company of just souls, in order that you may on this day partake in some measure of the joy and consolation that was their portion.

2d. Consider the joy of the holy angels. Without doubt these celestial spirits in countless hosts accompanied their King rejoicing and exultant, magnifying with wondrous songs of praise His triumphant, victorious entry into Heaven. And when the glorious cortege approached the celestial portals, may we not fancy them shouting in the prophetic words of the Psalmist: “Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up, eternal gates, and the King of glory shall enter in.” And those who were within answered, they too re-echoing David’s words: “Who is this King of glory who seeks to enter our gates?” And the angelic escort are heard to reply: “The Lord who is strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle; the Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” (Ps. xxiii. 7, 10.) Thus the Lord entered the Heaven He had left, while the celestial choirs sang a new canticle: “The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and benediction for ever.” (Ap. v. 12.) This entry into the heavenly Jerusalem was very different, far more solemn and sublime than our Lord’s triumphal entry into the earthly Jerusalem, and His triumph was not short-lived, as it was then, but for all eternity.

3d. Consider the joy which the God-man Himself experienced on the occasion of His Ascension. When He entered into the earthly Jerusalem He wept over the ill-fated city, but now on His returning to the heavenly Sion, the prophecy of David that He would ascend with jubilee and shouts of exultation was strictly fulfilled. May one not imagine the Saviour saying with holy delight to the choirs of celestial spirits: “Rejoice with Me, for I have found the sheep that was lost. Rejoice with Me because the groat that was lost is found again, the unhappy human race has been redeemed.” His was the joy of the good shepherd who has recovered the wandering sheep; the joy of the laborer in the vineyard who receives the wage for which he has worked, the joy of the faithful servant who has gained ten talents. Do you, my soul, share in this joy of your Lord? What are in general the feelings you experience in contemplating joys so transcendental, in meditating upon subjects which raise the mind far above this earth? “Dost thou perceive,” we quote the beautiful words of the Imitation, “a yearning after eternal bliss poured into thee from above, and that thou longest to go out from the tabernacle of the body that thou mayst behold the glory of God without any shadow of change?” or does all this leave you cold and unconcerned, do you still cleave to the pavement of earth? Ask yourself this question, and ponder this other saying of the same writer: “If I love Heaven, I willingly think on heavenly things. If I love the world, I rejoice with the prosperity of the world, and am troubled at its adversity. If I love the flesh, my imagination is often taken up with the things of the flesh. If I love the spirit, I delight to think of spiritual things. For whatsoever things I love, of the save I willingly speak and hear, and carry home with me the images of them.”(Imit. B. iii. ch. 48.)

PRAYER AFTER MEDITATION.

My God, I give Thee heartfelt thanks for all the graces and all the light Thou hast conferred on me during this meditation. Pardon me all the negligence and the distractions of which I have been guilty, and give me strength to carry out the resolutions that I have made. Fortify me, that from henceforth I may diligently practise this virtue . . . avoid this fault . . . perform this action . . . to Thy honor. Help me to do this, sweet Virgin Mary; and if I ever forget my good resolutions, I entreat my Angel Guardian to recall them to my memory. Amen.

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May Devotion: The Blessed Virgin Mary

Virtues to practice: Meekness, purity, the spirit of poverty

O holy Mary, my Mistress, into thy blessed trust and special keeping, into the bosom of thy tender mercy, this day, every day of my life and at the hour of my death, I commend my soul and body; to thee I entrust all my hopes and consolations, all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life, that through thy most holy intercession and thy merits, all my actions may be ordered and disposed according to thy will and that of thy divine Son. Amen. (St. Aloysius Gonzaga)

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

(For either of the above prayers: An indulgence of 3 years.

A plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions for the daily recitation of this prayer.)

The faithful who during the month of May take part in public exercises in honor of the B.V.M. may gain: An indulgence of 7 years on any day of the month; a plenary indulgence if they assist at the exercises on at least 10 days, and moreover, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, and pray for the Holy Father’s intentions.

Those who perform their devotions privately during the aforesaid month are granted: an indulgence of 5 years once on any day of the month; a plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, if they perform these devotions every day during the month; but where public exercises are held, this indulgence is granted only to those who are lawfully hindered from taking part in the same. (Raccolta).

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Novena to the Holy Ghost

The novena in honor of the Holy Ghost is the original novena, of which all other novenas are only imitations. Our Lord himself instituted this novena when, on the day of His ascension, He sent His Apostles back to Jerusalem to pray for nine days that they might be ready on the tenth day, which was Pentecost, to receive the Holy Ghost. Therefore, the Church has richly indulgenced novenas in honor of the Holy Ghost, and they may be made, not only at Pentecost, but at any time of the year.

INDULGENCES—(1) 300 days, each day. (2) Plenary, once during the novena, or octave on the usual conditions, i.e., confession—communion—prayer for intentions of the Pope. This novena may be made at any time, with any form of prayers approved by competent ecclesiastical authority. (Nov. 26, 1876.)

BEFORE PENTECOST

INDULGENCES__(1) 7 years and 7 quarantines, each day. (2) Plenary, once during the novena or on the feast or on any other day during the octave on the usual conditions, i.e., confession—communion—prayers for the intentions of the Pope. This novena may be made publicly or privately. Any prayers to the Holy Ghost may be used. (Leo XIII, May 9, 1897.) Another plenary indulgence can be gained by those who say some prayers in honor of the Holy Ghost each day of the octave and go to the sacraments any day of the octave and pray for the intentions of the Pope.

Since no particular prayers are prescribed, the following devotions are suggested as appropriate for the novena.

First Day

CONSIDERATION – We shall strive during this novena to obtain an increase of the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost, over and above the special favors we shall ask from the Divine Spirit. The gifts of the Holy Ghost are permanent supernatural dispositions give to us with grace, to make the soul attentive and responsive to the movements of the Third Person of the Adorable Trinity. Very appropriately have they been compared to the sails of a ship which, when spread, carry the craft swiftly and smoothly over its course. When the inspirations of the Holy Ghost find the gifts spread like sails in the soul, they waft it safely over the sea of life to the haven of eternal happiness. Those Christians who through indolence allow the gifts to lie dormant, are like ships dismantled, whose sails lie in the bottom of the boat, useless. Who has not felt many a time, even immediately after coming from the sacred tribunal of Penance, the necessity of some such impelling power? Therefore, let us beseech the Holy Ghost for an increase of the necessary gifts.

PRAYER

ALMIGHTY and eternal God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us Thy sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and of Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.

To obtain the special favors and blessing for which you are making this novena and also an increase of the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost recite 7 times the “Glory be to the Father.”

Prayer to the Holy Ghost.

O HOLY SPIRIT, divine spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, heart and will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations, and to the teaching of the Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbour; may my will be ever conformed to the Divine Will, and may my whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, to whom with the FATHER and Thee be honour and glory for ever. Amen.

300 Days, once a day.
Pius X, June 5, 1908.

Indulgences for a Novena for Pentecost.

i. Seven Years and Seven Quarantines, each day.
ii. Plenary, once during the Novena, Feast or Octave.
This Novena may be made publicly or privately, and the same Indulgences are granted for special prayers said every day during the Octave. Any prayers to the HOLY GHOST may be used.

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Act of Perfect Contrition
Oh my God! I am heartily sorry
for having offended Thee and
I detest all my sins because
I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell;
But most of all because I have offended Thee, My God,

Who art all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,
To confess my sins, to do penance,
And to amend my life. Amen.

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Vexilla Regis prodeunt

The royal banners forward go;
The Cross shines forth in mystic glow,
Where Life for sinners death endured,
And life by death for man procured.

Where deep for us the spear was dyed,
Life’s torrent rushing from His side,
To wash us in that precious flood
Where mingled, Water flowed, and Blood.

Fulfilled is all that David told
In true prophetic song of old;
‘Amidst the nations, God,’ saith he,
‘Hath reigned and triumphed from the Tree.’

O Tree of beauty! Tree of light!
O Tree with royal purple dight!
Elect on whose triumphal breast
Those holy Limbs should find their rest.

On whose dear arms, so widely flung,
The weight of this world’s ransom hung:
The price of humankind to pay
And spoil the spoiler of his prey.

O Cross, our one reliance, hail,Thou glory of the saved, avail*
To give fresh merit to the Saint,
And pardon to the penitent.

*Instead of: ‘Thou Glory of the saved,’ during Passiontide, say: ‘This Holy Passiontide’, during the Paschal Season: ‘Thou joy of Eastertide’, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: ‘On this triumphant day.‘

To Thee, Eternal Three in One,
Let homage meet by all be done;
Whom by the Cross Thou dost restore,
Preserve and govern evermore. Amen.

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Memoirs of a Guardian Angel

Memoirs of a Guardian Angel by M.L’ Abbe G. Chardon

These Memoirs are a gallery of paintings in which is brought into view the Catholic doctrine on the ministry of Guardians Angels. An angel here tells what were his duties and his impressions from the moment in which a soul was intrusted to him, to that in which she took her place at his side in glory. We see at a glance, what this best of friends has done for us in the past, is doing for us now, and will do for us in the future. May the reading of these pages excite the gratitude of hearts that receive so many benefits, and lead them to correspond with these more faithfully! This is the end which the author had in view. Letter of Approbation, 1870. 320 page soft cover book. (price includes shipping - US orders only.)

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The Purgatorian Manual

Increase your devotion to assist the Holy Souls with this manual. Includes prayers for each day of the month, Novena to the Holy Souls in Purgatory by St. Alphonsus, Morning prayers, Evening devotions, Acts before & after Holy Communion, devotions for Confession, visit to the Blessed Sacrament, the Way of The Cross by St. Alphonsus, Protestation for a Happy Death by St. Alphonsus, daily prayers for the Poor Souls, Litanies, Mass Prayers, and much more. An exact reprint from 1946 edition. Softcover, 305 pages, Size 4” x 6”. (price includes shipping - US orders only.)

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MORE JOY
It is time we re-learn how to view the world as Christians. What destroys joy in our modern culture? What is good art? Good literature? Good music? What is the difference between pleasure and joy? How can we be joyful today? What is the joy of the saints?

THE CHRISTIAN FATHER
Fathers will understand the great obligation of their vocation which they will be asked to render an account of, and will turn to this book time and time again for important advice on raising children, heading their family, and setting a good example.

THE CHRISTIAN MOTHER
This treasure for mothers will provide the advise mothers need to raise their children and the prayers she should daily raise to heaven to request graces for her family.

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Increase your devotion to assist the Holy Souls with this manual. Includes prayers for each day of the month, Novena to the Holy Souls in Purgatory by St. Alphonsus, Morning prayers, Evening devotions, Acts before & after Holy Communion, devotions for Confession, visit to the Blessed Sacrament, the Way of The Cross by St. Alphonsus, Protestation for a Happy Death by St. Alphonsus, daily prayers for the Poor Souls, Litanies, Mass Prayers, and much more. An exact reprint from 1946 edition. Softcover, 305 pages, Size 4” x 6”. (price includes shipping - US orders only.)

$15.50

Your support is appreciated!

Support this apostolate.

The Holy Cross Publications blog is provided free of charge, there costs associated with making it available and with operating this site. Your support to offset these costs are greatly appreciated.
Please note: Holy Cross Publications is not a US government registered charity. Donations are NOT tax deductible.

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Memoirs of a Guardian Angel by M.L’ Abbe G. Chardon

These Memoirs are a gallery of paintings in which is brought into view the Catholic doctrine on the ministry of Guardians Angels. An angel here tells what were his duties and his impressions from the moment in which a soul was intrusted to him, to that in which she took her place at his side in glory. We see at a glance, what this best of friends has done for us in the past, is doing for us now, and will do for us in the future. May the reading of these pages excite the gratitude of hearts that receive so many benefits, and lead them to correspond with these more faithfully! This is the end which the author had in view. Letter of Approbation, 1870. 320 page soft cover book. (price includes shipping - US orders only.)